On March 4, 2014 the following Platform Statements were presented. Election results follow the platform statements.
Platform statement for Forrest Wilson NSS 16631RL(Fe
I started “dry” caving in 1968, and cave diving in 1969. I joined the NSS in 1974, and the NSS-CDS in 1977.
I was CDS training chairman from 1978 until 1984, when I stepped down to build an airplane. I developed the first multi-level cave diver training program. I was a co-author of the first NSS-CDS Cave Diving Manual.
I have done the initial exploration and survey of UW caves in 9 States. I was an early diving gear manufacturer, and developed several items, including the two zipper pouch, thick walled “test tubes”, and the line arrow. I still continue to develop new gear, and techniques.
If I am re-elected to the BOD, I will continue working to open access to cave diving sites inside and outside of Florida (yes, there are many caves outside of Florida). I will also work to keep open the ones that we have now.
Platform statement Tony Flaris
My name is Tony Flaris and I ask for your support and vote to elect me to a second term on the NSS-CDS Board.
Throughout the past 2 years I have served as Secretary and as Vice Chairman of the Cave Diving Section of the National Speleological Society.
During those two years I have come to the following conclusions.
In order for the NSS-CDS to thrive, the BoD must find ways to increase the membership’s involvement in the organization. I feel this can best be achieved through the following:
- Opening the channels of communication with the membership and allowing a greater degree of transparency of the BoD’s thoughts and actions.
- Increasing the Educational Outreach of the NSS-CDS. Education is an important part of our mission statement that is currently under served.
- Developing a greater community involvement with environmental concerns facing the Springs and water supplies on a local and international level.
- Empowering the committees of the organization, this can help to increase membership involvement and ownership of the Section as well as the overall effectiveness of the organization to achieve its mission statement.
- Promoting the NSS-CDS at an international level by reaching out to International members and seeking their input and viewpoints.
Kind Regards Tony Flaris 904-210-4550 tflaris@me.com
Platform statement Joe Tegg
As they are to you, the current state and future direction of the NSS-CDS are very important to me. I’ve been a cave diver for more than a decade and I want to be an active part of ensuring that the NSS-CDS continues as the leader in cave diving conservation and education. As a director, my primary goals would be to ensure that the NSS-CDS is continually moving forward by building on its strong forty-year foundation, expanding the use of technology, improving transparent communication with members, and encouraging growth in member participation.
As an active cave diver since 2002, and a member of the NSS-CDS since my cavern certification, I have firsthand experience during many of the improvements and difficulties in the cave diving community and cave diving organizations. I have primarily participated with the NSS-CDS, leading several CDS-sponsored projects such as site cleanups, gate installations, line installs, and line repairs. I have also been a guide for the NSS-CDS School Sink (Wayne’s World) property for many years.
Outside of cave diving, I have served in several leadership roles that would assist me as a director for the NSS-CDS. In addition to leadership roles in my career as an IT professional, I am a director on my homeowner’s association board, and long-time volunteer with several non-profit organizations. Please feel free to contact me with any questions regarding my platform via phone, email, or the Cave Diver’s Forum website.
Platform statement Sylvester “TJ” Muller
My name is Sylvester Muller, but my friends call me TJ. I am running for the board of the NSS-CDS. Currently I sit on the board as secretary, and I am on the technology and science committees. I have been working on many projects in my short time on the board, including collaborating with the NSS-CDS attorney on the current wrongful death case (which is starting to look up) and developing a mobile app for the CDS; we had a pilot program that went well, and now we have a much faster and better app on a new platform in development, which will be available any day now. I was also chosen by the Chairman to represent the CDS at meetings with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission(FWC), in order to refine the management plan for Eagles Nest. That has worked out well so far, with no restrictions to certified cave divers. In addition, I am rolling out a Pilot Scholarship Program where the NSS-CDS will give a free “Basic Cave” or “Intro to Cave” class for one man and one woman; the winner will be chosen in a drawing at our annual workshop in May. The class and books will be provided gratis, so the winner will just need to bring their basic equipment (but may rent a light); the fills and tank rental will be donated by Cave Country Dive Shop, Amigos, and Dive Outpost.
Previously, I was on the nominations committee where I nominated five candidates for the board, all of whom were either appointed or elected. I recruited the current chair of the science committee, James Garey, who is the head of the Science department at the University of South Florida and a fellow cave diver.
I believe strongly in the mission of the NSS-CDS and have a vision for growing the organization through outreach, better use of information technology and social media. I believe the NSS-CDS to be the premier cave diving association in the world, with better recruiting of the next generation of cave divers, maintaining the highest standards of training, and instilling the necessity of conservation of our underwater heritage. Please allow me the privilege of serving the cave diving community again, for there is much to be done.
Thanks for your consideration. Sylvester J Muller “TJ”
The Administrator of the Election has tallied the votes of the NSS-CDS membership. The results for the 2014 CDS election for 3 board seats are, in this order:
- Tony Flaris
- Forrest Wilson
- TJ Muller
- As per Article III.C.9 of the NSS-CDS Bylaws, the newly elected members will take their seats at the next BoD meeting.